124 ADVENTURES IN THE WILDERNESS. 



1 



water, into our eyes, we came upon a giant pine, 

 which some descending bolt had struck, far up 

 amid the topmost branches, and riven to the 

 very roots. Huge slabs, twenty feet in length, and 

 weighing hundreds of pounds, torn out from the 

 very heart, thrown a dozen rods on either side, 

 and the ground strewn with yellow splinters, bore 

 palpable witness of the lightning's power. Paus- 

 ing a moment amid the wreck and ruin, look- 

 ing into the yellow heart of that riven pine, weep- 

 ing great drops of odorous gum, how weak the 

 effort of man appeared beside the power of nature. 

 What is our boasted strength of brawn and mus- 

 cle compared with the terrific forces which lie hid- 

 den amid the elements ? And what is ours or 

 theirs beside the power of Him who holds their 

 violence in check, and uses at will the wild chem- 

 istry of the skies ? 



At length (for all journeys have an end) we 

 tore our way through the last opposing thicket, 

 and stood upon the coveted beach. The dreaded 

 Carry was crossed ; and, as if to reward our toil 

 and cheer our drooping spirits, even as we lay 

 panting upon the wet sands, the cloud above us 

 parted, and the bright sun came out, gemming the 

 dripping trees with jewels, and swathing the lake 

 in golden sheen. Patches of fleecy fog rose from 

 the shores, and, changing to yellow mist as the 

 sun warmed them, floated lazily along the moun- 



